Safety-bridle.



y PATBNTED EEB, 19, l1907.

H. G. THOMPSON. SAFETY BRIDLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 100s.

HERBERT o. THOMPSON, or HOPEDALE, INDIANA.,

SAFETY-BRIDLE.

Specieaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19,19071 Application filed May 1,1906. Serial No. 314,693.

i TA all whom, it nrtg/ concern:

' upwardly through eyes or over pulleys which will cause the bit to be drawn upward in the horses mouth, but at the same time when the body portions ot the reins are pulled the bit will be drawn slightly to the rear upon an angle as well as upwardly instead of directly against the lower jaw.

It is to be specially observed that the most essential object ot the invention is to provide a device of this character having ellicicnt means whereby the bit when drawn upwardly and slightly rearwardly may be automatically locked in the extreme upper part of t-he horses mouth, thus keeping the horses mouth distorted. This locking means may be conveniently released when desired, and, furthermore, a bridle of this construction will e'li'ectively prevent the animal from taking77 or holding the bit between the teeth.

This invention comprises further objects and combinations et elements, which will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings, and the novel 'features thereof will be pointed out by the appended claims.

To obtain a full and correct understanding of the details ot construction, combinations ot features, elements, and advantages, reference is to be had to the hereinafter set forth description and the accompanying drawings in connection therewith, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bridle illustrated in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bridle coinprising the automatic locking means. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the automatic locking means.

Making renewed reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several illustrations by gures, l designates the crown-piece, 2 the throat-latch, and 3 the brow-band. Attached to the crownpiece and the brow-band, as at 4 and 5, is the checkrein 6, which extends rearwardly and is provided with branching ends 7, which are connected to the ends ot a rod S, having a perforated billet 9, allowing its connection to the water-hook ot' the harness saddle or girth. (Not shown in the drawings.) The browband is provided with eyes or loops 10 at its rear ends. embracing,I the side portions of the crown-piece. The bit 11, which may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably ot the form known as a Lcheck-sna'flle bit, has the side rings 12. The main or checksnafl'le reins 13 has its ends connected with the bit-rings 12, preferably by means of buckles 14, as shown.

15 designates the auxiliary bridoon-reins, which have their front ends connected ith the bit-rings 12, preferably by means ot' buckles 16, as shown. The ends of the reins 15 pass from the bit upwardly over pulleys 17, which are attached to the sides of the crown-piece by means of a separate strap and buckle 1S, as shown, and trom thence downwardly under corresponding pulleys 19, which are journaled within castings 20, which castings are secured to the bit-rings 12, as clearly shown in the drawings.

To lock the bit in the extreme upper part ot the horses mouth, automatic locking devices are provided comprising tubular extensions 21 of the castings 20, through which the auxiliary bridoon-reins pass, which tubular extensions are provided with upwardlyextending hollow members 22 in which are mounted the spring-pressed bolts 23, the lower ends of which are provided with teeth 24, which are inclined in such wise as to allow the auxiliary bridoon-reins when pulled upon by the driver' to pass the springpressed bolts; but in the retrogression ofthe said auxiliary bridoOn-reins the teeth oi tlLe spring-pressed bolts will bite into the said reins, as will be clearly understood from the drawings. To allow the bit.to assume its normal position in the horses mouth, suitable releasing-reins 25 are provided, wlich are connected to the spring-pressed bolts 23 and from thence over the pulleys 26, which are secured to the auxiliary bridoon-reins, as at 27, as clearly shown. The releasing-reins are adapted to extend back to a suitable 1ocation within grasp oi the driver, as also the auxiliary bridoon-reins and the main or check-snaiile rein, as will be understood. These automatic locking devices form stops Jfor the auxiliary bI'doon-reins and at the IOO IIO

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same time also form gages to regulate""the size of bridle suitable for different-sized heads of animals.

From the foregoing the essential features, elements, and the operation of the device, together With the simplicity thereof, will -be clearly observed and when manufactured in accordance with the invention an inexpensive market will be easily obtained therefor.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful, by the protection of Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bridle, comprising the head-gear,

the bit, pulleys mounted upon the head-gear and the bit, and the reins connected with th bit and passing through said pulleys, the' combination with the reins and said pulleys, of automatic locking, stop, and gage devices for the reins, and means for releasing the said automatic locking, stop, and gage devices.

2. In a bridle, comprising the head-gear, the bit, pulleys mounted upon the head-gear and bit, and the reins connected with the bit and passing through said pulleys, the combination with the reins and said pulleys, of automatic locking, stop and gage devices for the reins, comprising castings, a pulley mounted in each of said castings, tubular extensions of the castings to receive the reins, upwardly-extending hollow members of the tubular extensions, spring pressed bolts mounted in said hollow members and having means to bite'into the reins, and releasingreins for the spring-pressed bolts.

3. In abridle, the head-gear, the bit and check reins, in combination With the auxiliary bridoon-reins, -automatic locking means for the auxiliary bridoon-reins, comprising castings having tubular extensions to receive the auxiliary bridoon-reins, said tubular extensions having upwardly-extending hollow members, spring-pressed bolts mounted in said hollow members and having means to bite into the auxiliary bridoon-reins, and means for releasing said spring-pressed bolts of the reins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aixed my signature in presence of tWo wit- Witnesses FRED COCHRAN, JAMEs v M. TowNsLEY.

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